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2004 National Brass Band Championships of The Netherlands |
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The 2004 National Brass Band Championships
of The Netherlands took place in the Martiniplaza, Groningen on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th December. This was the 24th Dutch Championship and was organised by the National Band Federation. Groningen, a city in Northern Holland with a population of just under 200,000, is in the area in which some 70% of all Dutch brass bands are situated. The Championships were sponsored by Besson Musical Instruments Ltd, Majestic Percussion, De Haske Publications, Gobelin Music Publications, Mirasound, North Music Holland, GK Design and Geert Bruinsma Muziek Forty four bands competed in five sections, with sections four and two taking place on Friday evening and sections three, one and Championship on Saturday. An international panel of adjudicators had been assembled: Jan de Haan (The Netherlands), Tom Brevik (Norway) and Arnin Bachmann (Switzerland) judged sections four, three and two and Marcus Bach (Switzerland), Jan Van der Roost (Belgium) and David Read (England) were given the task of passing judgement on the first and Championship sections. The Martiniplaza, Groningen will also be the venue for the 2005 EBBA European Contest - on this occasion not the theatre where the Dutch National was staged which has a capacity of 1,600, but a larger auditorium in the same complex which can hold 3,000. The organisers are confident that all tickets will be sold well in advance of the Championship. What immediately struck the observer was the wonderful atmosphere which prevailed for the entire event, a most warm and friendly feel with a real anticipation and excitement which seemed to exude from everyone, performers and audience alike. The audience figures were extremely pleasing for the organisers, some 800 tickets sold for the Friday evening to hear sections two and four and a complete sell out on Saturday. Such a refreshing statistic for brass bands. A most civilised schedule for the Championship had been put in place by the organisers and at 7pm on Saturday, following the first section and a two hour meal break, the Championship Section got under way. With all tickets sold and all seats occupied, eight performances were given of a work entitled Ginnungagap by Johan Evenepoel. The work in its original form was of 26 minute duration, but had been cut to 22 minutes for contest purposes. A work which seemed to find much favour with performers and audience alike, it was certainly great listening. Credit for this selection belongs to Jappie Dijkstra, who having heard the composer's work immediately proposed it as the test-piece for this year's Championship Section Nationals. I sincerely hope Johan Evenepoel is a composer we hear much more of in the future - I am sure this will be the case. Performances were received with a massive amount of acclaim, at times it was almost like being at an evangelical meeting. Extended applause, standing ovations and even klaxons were in evidence. The eventual winners were Brass Band Rijnmond from Rotterdam conducted by Erik Janssen, with Brass Band de Bazuin runners-up and Amsterdam Brass coming in in third place. On both Friday and Saturday events didn't conclude until after midnight when results were announced. Celebrations and socialising followed the results and awards and everyone attending had a marvellous time at the Martiniplaza. Those involved in organising the Dutch National Championships should take much credit for this weekend. Brass banding in The Netherlands certainly shows all the signs of being in a very healthy state. The Brass Herald warmly congratulates Wim Rozema, Ulbe Boes, Jappie Dijkstra and their colleagues for staging such a superb event. There were many lessons that could and should be learned by others from events in Groningen this weekend. It was a most positive and highly enjoyable experience. |